Louvred construction

ABSTRACT

A louvred construction suitable for sunshades, awning applications and the like disposed either vertically, horizontally, or at some angle intermediate these planes is disclosed in which the individual louvres are supported by transverse ribs the ends of which are secured in a supporting channel mounted upon a fixed surface. The ends of the ribs are secured by a locking member in the channel and then the individual louvres are snapped in place. A unit comprising a fixing member and a clamping member is then secured in place over one edge of the louvre at the rib location to insure firm securement. All of the parts are designed to permit assembly with a minimum of tools and the standardized parts permit of various possible constructions.

[ Feb. 18, 1975 2 602 971 7/1952 Sh 1w .1 52/473 3,016,584 1/1962 52/473 X 1 LOUVRED CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Johannes Antonius Henricus Brugman Rotterdam Netherlands Primary Examiner-Alfred C. Perham [73] Assignee: Hunter Douglas International N.V., Attorney, Agent, or FirmPennie & Edmonds Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles [57] ABSTRACT A louvred construction suitable for sunshades. awning applications and the like disposed either vertically. horizontally or at some angle intermediate these planes is disclosed in which the individual louvres are supported by transverse ribs the ends of which are secured in a supporting channel mounted upon a fixed surface. The ends of the ribs are secured by a locking '[22 Filed: Apr. 10, 1974 21 Appl. No: 459,806

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 10, 1973 Netherlands.v.................... 7304969 member in the channel and then the individual louvres are snapped in place. A unit comprising a fixing member and a clamping member is then secured in place over one edge of the louvre at the rib location to insure firm securement. All of the parts are designed to permit assembly with a minimum of tools and the stan- R m R 1N l 2 2 l l 9 9 ,EL; 4 4 7627 /l 2/59 57 4 0 N r. "8 H u ..I h m l 5mm UIF HUM 555 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS dardized parts permit of various possible constructions.

2,l33 113 10/1938 52/473 2 544182 3/1951 Roberts..........H.v.............. 98/121 R 18 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures w a W 1 W 7 a a w/a a a w PHENTED FEB 1 8l975 SHEET 10F 5 PATENTEU FEB 1 8 i975 SHEET 30F 5 FATENTEUFEBI aisra SHEET 5 [IF 5 LOUVRED CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The louvred construction according to the present invention comprises at least one louvre in the form of an oblong panel formed generally Z-shaped in crosssection supported by one, and more commonly, several transverse ribs of a similar cross-sectional shape. One end of the ribs is secured within the channel of a channel support member by means ofa locking member and the louvre snapped in place thereover. A two part unit comprising a fixing member and a clamping member is also secured to the support channel over the rib and forces that portion of the louvre firmly against the locking member. In this way the louvre extends outwardly at an angle with respect to the channel support.

One feature of the invention is that the opposite longitudinal edges of the louvre which may be constructed of various metals including such light metals as aluminum or even constructed of plastic, are turned inwardly to be snapped in place.

Another feature of the invention is that the parts are so designed so as to permit their temporary retention in the channel during assembly. This is particularly so of the ribs which may hang from the channel when placed therein awaiting application of the locking member. It is also true of the two part unit comprising the fixing member and clamping member which may also be placed in engagement with the channel and be retained there pending subsequent movement during assembly after application of the louvres to the ribs.

Both the locking member and the clamping member are preferably of an elastic or resilient material such as plastic for various reasons as hereinafter will be apparent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 shows a schematic end view of a portion of a louvred construction consisting of horizontal panels in a vertical plane and vertical supporting channels.

FIG. 3 shows a pictorial view of a portion of a supporting channel showing its channel section.

FIG. 4 shows a pictorial view of a panel rib.

FIG. 5 shows a pictorial view of a locking member.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the insertion of a rib in a supporting channel, together with a fixing member.

FIG. 7 shows a pictorial view of a fixing member without its clamping member.

FIG. 8 shows a pictorial view of a clamping member.

FIG. 9 shows a section of the line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of a completely assembled panel and a locking member being inserted for the next panel.

FIG. 11 shows a pictorial view, in partial section of a supporting channel. of an embodiment in which two panels join at a rib with the aid of a connecting member.

FIG. 12 shows a pictorial view of a connecting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 show two possible installations of the louvred construction. In FIG. 1, the oblong panels 1 lie parallel in a horizontal plane. They are fastened beneath elongated supporting channels 2 lying transverse to the panels in a horizontal plane. In FIG. 2, the horizontal panels 1 lie one above another in a vertical plane. They are fastened in front of the vertically arranged supporting channels 2. In both cases, the supporting channels are fixed to any suitable fixed structure 3, optionally with interposition of at least one tension bar 4 (see FIG. 1). i

The panels and supporting channels consist preferably of aluminum. However, other materials are not excluded thereby.

The supporting channel 2 (FIG. 3) has a channel section with turned-in lips 5 on the flanges 5a. At intervals corresponding to the desired panel spacing, recesses 6 are cut in the lips 5 and flanges 5a. These extend as far as the web 7 and are located facing each other in pairs. The rib 8 (FIG. 4) is a narrow metal plate. Its thickness is less than the distance between the web and the lips of the section. The rib has two parallel ends 9 and 10, distinguished as upper end 9 and lower end 10. They are bent in opposite directions at obtuse angles to a longer midportion 11. The upper end has two terminal projections 12 on opposed sides of its extremity. Measured across these projections, the upper end is of just about the same width as the web of the section at the recesses. That is to say, that the upper end measured across these projections 12 is greater than the inside distance between the flanges 5a in order to rest on the upper edges of the flanges 5a at the recesses 6 as more fully described hereafter. Just before the bend where the upper end passes over into the midportion, the upper end has two projections 13 on its opposed edges, to keep the rib centered in relation to the supporting member, and, by cooperating with the lips 5, to keep the as yet unsecured rib 8 from dropping out of the supporting member (see for example position b in FIG. 8) during assembly. Measured across projections 13, the upper end 9 is very slightly narrower than the distance between the flanges of the supporting member 2. The

. midportion 11 has a connecting portion 14 adjoining the upper end 9 and narrower than the distance between the lips 5. Elsewhere, the midportion is of about the same width as the channel support 2. The connecting portion 14 is of such length that it projects from the supporting member when the rib 8 is installed, with the projecting corners 15 of the midportion 11 at some distance from the lips (see for example FIG. 10).

The manner in which a rib 8 is inserted in the channel support 2 may be seen in FIG. 8. In position a of the rib, projections 13 are passed into recesses 6. Then the rib is pushed in direction P1, with the terminal projections 12 riding along the lips 5 from the outside. When position b has been reached, the rib 8 is tilted in direction P2 into its final position c, with terminal projections 12 in the somewhat wider recesses 8 and resting, together with the upper end 9, against the web 7 of the section. Because the upper end 9 is wider at the terminal projections 12 then the distance between the flanges 5a of the channel support 2, the terminal, projections prevent the rib from slipping farther down in the direction of the arrow P1 in FIG. 6.

In the final position c, the rib 8 is secured immovably in relation to the web 7 of the channel by a locking member 16 (FIG. 5).The latter, in this example, is made of plastic.- On its under side, it has a spring tongue 17 extending freely in axial direction between two legs 18. These have lateral projections 19 on the rearward side. The transverse portion 20 connecting the legs 18 has lateral projections 21 at the rearwardside toward the bottom. The latter projections 21 are wedgeshaped, tapering towards the rearward surface.

In order for the locking member to serve its purpose well, it should satisfy the following conditions.

Measured across projections 19 or 21, the locking member is somewhat narrower than the inside distance between the flanges 5a of the supporting channel 2, so that it may be inserted therein. Measured across the legs 18 or transverse portion 20, the width of the locking member is somewhat smaller than the distance between the lips 5. The projections 19 and 21, therefore, are about as wide as the distance by which the lips 5 project inward. The depthor thickness of the locking member at the legs 18 is greater than the distance between the face of the upper end 9 of the rib 8 when arranged in position and the inner surface of the lips 5. In installed position, therefore, the legs 18 protrude from the supporting channel. The same applies to the transverse portion 20, though it does not protrude quite so far as the legs 18. The reason for this will be explained later with respect to connecting member 40.

The locking member 16 is inserted as in FIG. 10. First the projections 21 are put into the recesses 6 and the locking member is pushed into the oblique position indicated by dot-dash lines. Thus the surfaces of the wedge-shaped projections 21 slide along beneath the lips 5. At the same time, the projections 21 slide on the surface of the upper end of the rib 8; From this oblique position, the locking member is tilted in direction P3 against the upper end 9 and then pushed in far enough so that the terminal projections 19 lie underneath the lips 5, as indicated by dashed lines. The spring tongue 17 has then snapped into a lengthwise slot 22 in the upper end 9. The tongue has a freely projecting terminal tab 23, which, when the locking member has been installed, projects upward beyond one edge of the recesses 6, as do the upper edges 24 of the legs 18 (see FIG. 10). The use of the locking member 16 ensures that the rib 8 is pressed firmly against the web 7 of the section.

The panel 1 is bent similarly to the rib 8. It has a flange 25, referred to as the top, an adjoining midportion 26, and a terminal portion 27, referred to as the bottom. The bottom has a reverse lip 28 to be sprung over the extreme edge of the lower end 10 of the rib. In installed position of the panel, the bottom parts 10 and 27 are in contact with each other, as are the midportions 11 and 26, while the top 25 of the panel rests against the legs 18 of the locking member 16, which legs protrude beyond the lips (see FIG The top 25 has a reverse lip 29. When the panel 1 is pushed out of its dot-dash position (FIG. 10) into its final position, this lip snaps behind the projecting upper edges 24' of the legs 18 of the locking member 16.

The top 25 is held in contact by a flat fixing member 30 and an associated clamp plate 31 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The clamp plate 31 is assembled with the fixing. member 30 with the aid of matching dovetail connections 32 on the fixing member and 33 on the clamp plate. The fixing member is of metal, preferably aluminum, and the clamp plate is of elastic or flexible material such as plastic. The unit 30, 31 is about the same width as the channel support 2, with which .it is slidably connected. For this purpose, the fixing member has, at its rearward side adjacent its upper edge two substantially L-shaped projections 34. These projections 34, when in place as shown at the top in FIG. 10, fit between flanges 5a and engage behind the lips 5. The pro jections 34 lie on either side ofthe dovetail connections 32, 33. The clamp plate has a tongue 35 which, owing to recesses 36 on either side, is somewhat springy, and has at its extremity a tab 37 which in installed position clips over the upper edge of the fixing member at the dovetail groove 32. The recesses 36 are bounded on the outside by spring strips 38 diverging somewhat in relation to the fixing member, as may be seen from the unit 30, 31 as represented by dot-dash lines in FIG. 6. Each strip 38 has on its rearward side a projection 39. Likewise on this rearward side the clamp plate has two lengthwise ridges 39' (FIG. 9) along its edges, located laterally of the dovetail connections 33 on the opposed face.

The unit 30, 31, when moved out of the position indicated by dot-dash lines in FIG. 6, is introduced by its projections 34 in direction P4 into a pair of recesses 6. The spring strips 38 bear by their projections 39 on the outside of the lips 5 and prevent any premature shifting of the unit 30, 31 in direction P5. After the rib 8 has been locked inits final position c by means of the locking member 16 and the panel put in place, the unit 30, 31 is pushed in direciton P5 over the top 25 of the panel. In the final position, the projections 39 of the spring strips 38 have sprung into the recesses 6, so that the fixing member is secured against sliding back (upwards in FIG. 10). The clamp plate portions with lengthwise ribs 39 located laterally to the dovetail connection are able to bend in relation to the panel when the fixing member and clamp plate are put in place. forming a firmly clamped flexible connection. Because the clamp plate extends over the entire width of the fixing member, it is assured that the top strip 25 of the panel is optimally pressed against the protruding legs 18 of the'locking member 16, as represented in FIG. 10. This figure also shows how in the final position of the fixing member, the projections 34 remain in cooperation with the lips 5 and engaged behind said lips 5.

If the available length of panel 1 is shorter than the distance over which the panels are to extend, then panels will be laid end to end. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment that may be employed in such case. It differs from the embodiment described by the use of a connecting member 40 (see also FIG. 12), bent in much the same way as the rib 8 and the panels to be connected. The connecting member, which may be of the same material as the panels, lies against the rib 8 and is somewhat wider than the latter. The connecting member 40 has a reverse lip 41 at one end to embrace the extreme edge of the lower end 10 of rib 8. At the other end, an edge 42 of the connecting member lies inside the lip 29 of the panels. This edge 42 (see FIG. 12) has a set of resilient tabs bent at one angle to the upper edge 42 and a second set of resilient tabs 51 bent at a different angle to the upper edge 42 of connecting member 40. This arrangement of tabs 50, 51 provides a spacing limitation in two directions to eliminate play of edge 42 in lip 29. The panels meet in the median longitudinal plane of the rib 8 with a butt joint 43, in a single plane. The extreme lips 28 of the panels I embrace the lip 41 of the connecting member 40. The connecting member 40 is provided in the middle of its edge 42 with a rectangular cut-out 44 of such size as to embrace the two legs 18 of the locking member 16 (FIG. 5). The panels 1, in this embodiment also, rests directly upon these legs 18. The panel connector rests on the transverse portion 20, which, as has been noted, protrudes a lesser distance from the channel support 2 than do the legs. The difference is greater than the thickness of the sheet material of the connecting member 40. The flexibility of the clamp plate 31 ensures that, owing to the extra thickness of material that results from the use of the connecting member, the fixing member can nevertheless be pushed far enough so that the projections 39 will drop into the recesses 6.

Along an edge, the cut-out 44 has projecting strips 45 entering a groove 46 in the locking member 16 for extra security of the connecting member 40. Between these projections 46 there is a straight tap 47 entering between the legs 18.

While the louvre panels have been described as Z- shaped in the above description it will be apparent that they could be straight, curved or otherwise shaped as may be desired.

Similarly, it will be understood that while the above disclosure shows the louvred construction applied to a vertical surface the same may be readily applied to a horizontal surface as shown schematically in FIG. 1 or on a surface arranged at some angle therebetween.

I claim:

1. A louvred construction of the type described comprising a channel support, at least one rib, said rib having one end portion thereof disposed within said channel support, a locking member for securing said one end of said rib within said channel support, said rib extending outwardly from said channel support and terminating in an outer edge, an elongated panel, means for securing one longitudinal edge of said panel to said outer edge of said rib, the other longitudinal edge of said panel being engaged with said locking member, and clamping means slidably engaged. in said channel support for clamping a portion of said panel adjacent said other edge between said locking member and said clamping means.

2. The construction of claim 1 in which said means for securing one longitudinal edge of said panel to the outer edge of said rib comprises a resilient inturned lip on said one longitudinal edge resiliently engaged over said outer edge of said rib.

3. The construction of claim 1 in which said channel support includes a pair of spaced substantially parallel flanges and an intermediate web, said flanges having spaced recesses therein with the recesses in one of said flanges being in alignment with the recesses in the other of said flanges, and said one end portion of said rib having lateral projections engaged in a pair of aligned recesses to prevent axial movement of said rib along said channel support.

4. The construction of claim 3 in which each of said flanges has an inturned lip therealong with the lip of one of said flanges projecting toward the lip of the other of said flanges, said lipshaving recesses substantially coextensive with the recesses of their respective flanges, said one end portion of said rib lying flat against said web, said locking member having lateral projections thereon, said lateral projections being engaged between the inner surfaces of said lips and said one end portion of-said rib to hold said one end portion flat against said web.

5. The construction of claim 4 in which said locking member has a portion thereof protruding outwardly between said lips, said protruding portion thereof being the bearing surface of said locking member which in cooperation with said clamping means clamps said portion of said panel therebetween.

6. The construction of claim 5 in which said locking member includes a resilient tongue, said one end portion of said rib has an opening therein, and said tongue being engaged in said opening to secure said locking member with respect to said one end portion of said rib.

7. The construction of claim 6 in which said one end portion of said rib has a second set of lateral projec tions thereon bearing against the facing surfaces of said flanges. I

8. The construction of claim 7 in which said other edge of said panel engaged with said locking member comprises an inturned lip extending into said recesses of said lips and flanges and engaged with said locking member.

9. The construction of claim 8 in which said locking member includes outwardly extending projections with which said inturned lip of said other edge of said panel is engaged.

10. The construction of claim 9 in which said clamping means includes projections slidably engaged between said web and the inner surfaces of said lips of said flanges.

11. The construction of claim 10 in which said clamping means includes a clamping plate and a separable flexible plate, said flexible plate being interposed between said clamping plate and said portion of said panel adjacent said other edge.

12. The construction of claim 11 in which said clamping plate and said flexible plate are separably joined by means of mating dovetail connections on said plates, a flexible tongue on said flexible plate, and said tongue having a portion therof engaged with said clamping plate for securing said plates together.

13. The construction of claim 12 in which said flexible plate has projections which bear against the outer surfaces of said lips of said flanges during assembly to hold the clamping means in position for final assembly, and said projections extending into said recesses of said lips of said flanges when said clamping means is finally positioned in clamping position.

14. The construction of claim 4 in which there are a plurality of said panels arranged in end to end abutted relationship on a plurality of ribs, adjacent abutted edges of adjacent panels being positioned over a rib, and a connecting member interposed between said last named rib and the abutted edges lying thereover.

15. The construction of claim 14 in which said connecting member includes a resilient inturned lip engaged over the outer edge of said rib and said means for securing said one longitudinal edge of said panel to said outer edge of said rib includes a resilient inturned lip on said one longitudinal edge of said panel engaged over said resilient inturned lip of said connecting member.

16. The construction of claim 15 in which said connecting member includes means projecting from an 7 8 edge thereof for engagement with said locking memprotrusions. v v 18. The construction of claim 17 in which said lock- 17. The construction of claim 16 in which said locking memberalso includes a groove, and Said means ing member includes a pair of spaced protrusions extending outwardly between said lips of said flanges, and said means projecting from said connecting member member engaged Sald grooveincludes means engaged between said pair of spaced jecting from said connecting member also includes a 

1. A louvred construction of the type described comprising a channel support, at least one rib, said rib having one end portion thereof disposed within said channel support, a locking member for securing said one end of said rib within said channel support, said rib extending outwardly from said channel support and terminating in an outer edge, an elongated panel, means for securing one longitudinal edge of said panel to said outer edge of said rib, the other longitudinal edge of said panel being engaged with said locking member, and clamping means slidably engaged in said channel support for clamping a portion of said panel adjacent said other edge between said locking member and said clamping means.
 2. The construction of claim 1 in which said means for securing one longitudinal edge of said panel to the outer edge of said rib comprises a resilient inturned lip on said one longitudinal edge resiliently engaged over said outer edge of said rib.
 3. The construction of claim 1 in which said channel support includes a pair of spaced substantially parallel flanges and an intermediate web, said flanges having spaced recesses therein with the recesses in one of said flanges being in alignment with the recesses in the other of said flanges, and said one end portion of said rib having lateral projections engaged in a pair of aligned recesses to prevent axial movement of said rib along said channel support.
 4. The construction of claim 3 in which each of said flanges has an inturned lip therealong with the lip of one of said flanges projecting toward the lip of the other of said flanges, said lips having recesses substantially coextensive with the recesses of their respective flanges, said one end portion of said rib lying flat against said web, said locking member having lateral projections thereon, said lateral projections being engaged between the inner surfaces of said lips and said one end portion of said rib to hold said one end portion flat against said web.
 5. The construction of claim 4 in which said locking member has a portion thereof protruding outwardly between said lips, said protruding portion thereof being the bearing surface of said locking member which in cooperation with said clamping means clamps said portion of said panel therebetween.
 6. The construction of claim 5 in which said locking member includes a resilient tongue, said one end portion of said rib has an opening therein, and said tongue being engaged in said opening to secure said locking member with respect to said one end portion of said rib.
 7. The construction of claim 6 in which said one end portion of said rib has a second set of lateral projections thereon bearing against the facing surfaces of said flanges.
 8. The construction of claim 7 in which said other edge of said panel engaged with said locking member comprises an inturned lip extending into said recesses of said lips and flanges and engaged with said locking member.
 9. The construction of claim 8 in which said locking member includes outwardly extending projections with which said inturned lip of said other edge of said panel is engaged.
 10. The construction of claim 9 in which said clamping means includes projections slidably engaged between said web and the inner surfaces of said lips of said flanges.
 11. The construction of claim 10 in which said clamping means includes a clampinG plate and a separable flexible plate, said flexible plate being interposed between said clamping plate and said portion of said panel adjacent said other edge.
 12. The construction of claim 11 in which said clamping plate and said flexible plate are separably joined by means of mating dovetail connections on said plates, a flexible tongue on said flexible plate, and said tongue having a portion therof engaged with said clamping plate for securing said plates together.
 13. The construction of claim 12 in which said flexible plate has projections which bear against the outer surfaces of said lips of said flanges during assembly to hold the clamping means in position for final assembly, and said projections extending into said recesses of said lips of said flanges when said clamping means is finally positioned in clamping position.
 14. The construction of claim 4 in which there are a plurality of said panels arranged in end to end abutted relationship on a plurality of ribs, adjacent abutted edges of adjacent panels being positioned over a rib, and a connecting member interposed between said last named rib and the abutted edges lying thereover.
 15. The construction of claim 14 in which said connecting member includes a resilient inturned lip engaged over the outer edge of said rib and said means for securing said one longitudinal edge of said panel to said outer edge of said rib includes a resilient inturned lip on said one longitudinal edge of said panel engaged over said resilient inturned lip of said connecting member.
 16. The construction of claim 15 in which said connecting member includes means projecting from an edge thereof for engagement with said locking member.
 17. The construction of claim 16 in which said locking member includes a pair of spaced protrusions extending outwardly between said lips of said flanges, and said means projecting from said connecting member includes means engaged between said pair of spaced protrusions.
 18. The construction of claim 17 in which said locking member also includes a groove, and said means projecting from said connecting member also includes a member engaged in said groove. 